Jill's found weight-loss curve

121114PBJill CHANGED: Jill Paxton (seated) with Curves owner Jhenai Lockett. PICTURE: PAUL BROOKS

Since January, however, this determined woman has attended Curves gym and made some remarkable changes.
"I needed to do something for my health," she says. "I was obese and there's a history in my family of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and I knew I didn't want any of those things so I decided to do something about it."
Jill had tried a gym before but it was one where they showed you what to do and left you to it. She gained a back injury from the unsupervised experience.
She was living in Levin when she heard about Curves but the nearest one was too far away for regular attendance, and with full-time work as financial administrator for the Salvation Army, she was unable to find the time.
Upon retirement, Jill and her husband moved to Wanganui. "The first thing I did was look online to see if there was a Curves here - and there was. We moved in October and I vowed the new year would be my new lifestyle."
Since joining the women-only gym, Jill has seen a big improvement to her weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and general well-being.
"Before starting here the furthest I could walk was around the corner to the bus stop. Gradually, as my fitness got better, I walked to another bus stop, then another bus stop ... now I walk the five kilometres home. "Last Saturday I finally walked the three bridges and really didn't feel as if I had exerted myself. I have more energy when I leave here [the gym] than I do when I arrive. I have dropped so many dress sizes I have to take in clothes all the time. I don't want to buy new clothes when I know I'm going to shrink out of them."
Jill has lost 22.6kg and 8 per cent of her body fat since joining, says Curves owner, Jhenai Lockett.
Jill has tried diets galore, only to put the weight straight back on again.
"I can honestly say the Curves programme is the only one that has actually worked and it keeps me motivated. I eat more food now than I ever did before. It comes down to choice - you have to choose you're going to change your life."
Jill attends Curves five mornings a week and walks on Saturday with Sunday for church, rest and family time.
"You need a rest day," says Jhenai, "Your body needs to recover."
The Curves programme includes personal coaching, supervision and encouragement. "I've had Jhenai and Kathy [Rookes] coaching me and they make sure you do everything right," says Jill.
She recently went on a catered women's retreat and friends kept asking her if she was allowed to eat the food on offer. "I'm allowed to eat anything on this table, but it's what I choose to eat that makes the difference," she told them.
Earlier this year Jill went with the Salvation Army on a study tour through Greece and Turkey - the Footsteps of Paul. "There was a lot of walking, a lot over rough ground. If I hadn't built up my fitness I don't think I could have coped with it.
"I know there are a lot of women going through what I went through ... and if this can encourage them ... "